The phrase "are at the bottom of" is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /ɑr æt ðə bɑtəm ʌv/. The sound /ɑr/ represents the vowel sound in "car" or "start," while the sound /æ/ represents the vowel sound in "cat" or "map." The "th" sound in "the" is represented by /ð/, and the sound /ə/ represents the schwa sound, heard in unstressed syllables like "sofa" or "banana." Lastly, /v/ represents the voiced labiodental fricative sound heard in "love" or "have." Together, these sounds create the pronunciation of "are at the bottom of."
The phrase "are at the bottom of" is a figurative expression used to describe the underlying cause or source of a particular situation or problem. It signifies that something is the root, foundation, or fundamental reason for a particular outcome or behavior.
When someone or something "is at the bottom of" a situation, it implies that they are responsible for its occurrence or that their actions or influence have led to its development. It often suggests a negative connotation, implying that someone's involvement has resulted in an undesirable outcome.
For instance, if a company is facing financial difficulties and the management's poor decisions are said to be "at the bottom of" the issue, it means that the decisions made by the management have directly caused or contributed to the financial problems.
Similarly, if a study finds that inadequate parenting is "at the bottom of" a child's behavioral issues, it indicates that the parenting style or lack thereof is the main cause for the child's behavioral problems.
Overall, the phrase "are at the bottom of" implies that something or someone is the underlying cause, the root, or the main factor contributing to a particular situation or problem.